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Kew Latin America Research Fellowships

Marcela Mora from Universidad de Puerto Rico, KLARF Fellow 2005-06 (Taxonomic studies of Philodendron)

The Kew Latin American Research Fellowships (KLARF) programme offers support for scientists from Latin America (including the West Indies and the Guianas) wishing to consult collections or conduct botanical research at Kew or the Natural History Museum. Fellowships often include visits to other European research institutes. This programme serves as an important mechanism for promoting active collaboration between UK and Latin American scientists.

The programme was established in 1998 with support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and ran for an initial three years. In 2002 a further donation enabled the programme to continue for a further three years (Phase 2: 2003-2006). The Weston Foundation also made a generous donation to Kew in 2002, specifically to fund a programme of fellowships (2003-2008) in recognition of the outstanding contributions made to botanical science and conservation by Professor Sir Ghillean Prance during his 11 years as Director of RBG Kew. These resources are administered jointly.

KLARF Fellowships focus on developing capacity for plant science research in Latin America. Particular emphasis is given to projects fostering one-to-one research collaboration between European and Latin American botanical scientists. Proposals are also invited from those wishing primarily to consult European botanical reference collections for the purpose of advancing their own research. Supported research fields include morphology-based taxonomy, biogeography, micromorphology (including anatomy and palynology), cytogenetics, biochemistry, molecular systematics and phylogeny, horticultural science, comparative developmental studies and related fields, capacity-building, repatriation of knowledge to Neotropical countries and building collaborations and partnerships with RBG Kew in conservation and the sustainable use of plant biodiversity.

The KLARF programme (Phase 2) has so far awarded 44 Fellowships, supporting botanists from Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba and Panama.  These projects have resulted in a range of publications, either individually or in collaboration with Kew staff. More information on the programme is available at www.klarf.org.uk

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